kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

I need to remove static electricity on gelatin filters. What is happening is that they are sticking to everything which makes it extremely difficult to get them in the slot in the back of the lens. Plus if you stack them they now have to be separated somehow. I have looked online but have not really come up with anything that I could use. Most solutions are, increase humidity, (I live in Florida) use a dryer sheet in when drying clothes.

Currently I have the filters cut to size and I have wrapped them in the old fashion lens cleaning paper so that they won’t get scratched. (looks like dryer sheets but with no chemicals that I know of) I then put them in a little baggie and then the baggie goes in a wallet. (One of those metal credit card ones)

The filters themselves were either samples from Lee or Rosco or regular ones from Kodak. All of them are ND filters but the ND is not the issue as it does it with the other sample ones.

I was thinking gelatin filters have been around a long time so I’m sure this must have been an issue at some point.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

dryer sheet??!!

RFC Loc: Tucson, Az

I am setting here enjoying reading uhh and thought about your problem. we use antistatic bag for our computer boards on the komatsu haul trucks. maybe a local computer parts store might have these bags. hope this helps. RFC

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

[quote=kpassaur]I need to remove static electricity on gelatin filters. [Quote]

Have you tried an anti-static brush?

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

Yes, but keep in mind when you research for a solution you get all kinds. The dryer sheet is mentioned frequently so I would assume it works for some fabrics. My thought is it does work most likely work but it is putting a coating of chemicals on the fabric. I don't want anything on my filters. I'm very new to gelatin filters. I used them once a couple of years ago. However, I want to try some long exposure daytime shots and from what I have read you frequently need 15-16 stops. (the articles have been saying the lee big stopper is not enough, you need a big and little stopper) Anyway two of my lenses have slots for filters and with the 15mm fisheye you couldn't put anything on the front even if you wanted to.

The Kodak NDs are not expensive at all. I know they are somewhat disposable and a pain to use but this is to give it a go and see how I like it. The most I paid was $37 for an ND 4.0 and I can cut it into four pieces. This beats the $150 for a big stopper. Plus you can get samples from lee and Rosco and use them as well. A sample book costs around $5 delivered and some have up to 8 filters in them once cut plus you have the others to put on your flash.
The key now is the storage and static electricity issue.
.

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

[quote=RWR][quote=kpassaur]I need to remove static electricity on gelatin filters.

I have tried the brush on a lens cleaning pen. I have read that years ago they made some for film that worked but they were taken off the market as some spy used the chemicals in one to kill someone. Don’t know if that is a true story, but it made for an interesting read.

I would assume (naturally incorrectly) that all lens and negative brushes would have some ability to reduce static it just to keep the dust off.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

That's correct, you assumed incorrectly. :) I use a Kinetronics StaticWisk #SW-101, which has a ground wire. Others are also available:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Anti-Static+Brush&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

Thanks, I guess I will have to hope that works. I just put one of the filters in an aluminum foil envelope, went out side and placed it on what I would assume is a good ground. The SS rail for from my pool. I rubbed it back and forth carefully as I know how soft the fiter is. I bring it back in the house and the same thing.

So then I take another filter (I have the 5 sample packs so hundreds of them that I will never use) rub it with one of those cling free dryer sheets and it works. However now it is cloudy with all the chemicals on it.

So, I put the cling free sheet under a micro fibre cloth and rub another micro fibre cloth on top. A little cloudy so I clean it off and it still has static. Perhaps it is not static, it is like a magnet. What I do to test is hold up a lens cleaning tissue and then the filter if the tissue moves I move the filter to the other side and check again.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Actually, since the filter is in the rear of the lens, slight residue from the dryer sheet on the filter is not likely to affect the image. I'm not sure how adequate a ground your pool rail provides, and then you need to be grounded, as well. A good ground is a wire under the screw of an outlet cover plate. Let us know your results.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

take a look at sense cleaning - several companies advertise anti-static brushes. Sorry, don't have time now to search out the links

kpassaur Loc: Valrico FL

Thank you - for now what I am going to attempt is to use the dryer sheet and then a micro fibre cloth to clean off the residue. I can get it real good and from what I have read (not tested) if a filter is not perfect do not worry about it espceially if it is in the back. I don't photograph test charts so I might as well give it a go.

twowindsbear

Ask Rosco how to remove static from the Rosco filters. They SHOULD know.

Ka2azman Loc: Tucson, Az

I recall in the old days when girls wore slips under skirts and dresses static was a problem at times. The solution then was table salt. Sprinkle it on and wa-la static cling gone.

You could try placing some salt in a cloth bag and laying the gel under it and see what happens. It was almost instantaneously when used on clothing. And that was just sprinkled on.

When driving grounding rods into the ground for lightening rods, one added improvement was to add salt to the ground around the rod to improve the conductivity.

Most believe that water is a conductor for electricity, it is not. Its the salts and minerals in water that make it conductive; without the mineral and salts water is a poor conductor.